Blackfoot Crossing museum recognized for repatriations, cultural preservation

Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park is receiving a provincial award this weekend for its work preserving Siksika culture. 

It is the first Indigenous-led museum to win the Alberta Museums Association's Robert R. Janes award for social responsibility.

The Siksika Nation-based museum is being recognized for its community initiatives and efforts to repatriate artifacts, such as Chief Crowfoot's regalia from the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in the U.K. in 2022.

Museum general manager Shannon Bear Chief says the award is humbling and also serves as a reminder to continue working toward their goals.

"Our dream is to have every Blackfoot item returned back to Blackfoot Crossing … so we can continue to showcase that in our exhibits, vibrant exhibits, you know, share the rich history and culture of our people, and that's what we're looking forward to," Bear Chief told CBC News.

The museum was built in 2007, inspired by an elder's dream of having a home for artifacts to be returned to. It's located close to the very spot Treaty 7 was signed 147 years ago.

The museum became the first Indigenous institution accredited through the Alberta Museums Association in 2022, just as years of work to repatriate Chief Crowfoot's regalia came to fruition. 

In a news release announcing the award, the museums association described Blackfoot Crossing's leadership as being champions for the Siksika Nation "on the local, provincial and international levels."

"The cultural centre places the vision of 'preserving, maintaining and promoting Siksikawa Way of Life' at the core of every program, event and initiative, celebrating and sharing authentic Blackfoot culture and history with their community, Albertans and the world."

Jennifer Forsyth is the executive director of the museums association. She says Blackfoot Crossing has become a leader in forging relationships between cultural institutions and museums across Alberta.

""We really look to them to help us as we go through our journey of finding a new role for museums in the future as we work on truth and reconciliation," Forsyth said.

Bear Chief describes the museum's mission as learning about and teaching the Siksika language and culture.

"That's our social responsibility," she said.

She says this award comes at a busy time with museum expansion plans set to get under way this winter.

Bear Chief and her team from Blackfoot Crossing will receive the award Saturday, at a ceremony being held at the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller.